AU6244600A - Method and apparatus for removing indicators from hangers - Google Patents

Description

-1- P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

ORIGINAL

S. S.

S

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Spotless Plastics Pty Ltd Stanley F GOULDSON, David J MARSHALL and William W BUSH Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 101 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia Method and Apparatus for Removing Indicators from Hangers The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us 2 METHOD AND APPARATUS

FOR

REMOVING INDICATORS FROM HANGERS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing a side sizer indicator from the hanger.

Background of the Invention: For purposes of displaying garments suspended on hangers in an orderly manner to the retail customer, certain retail stores desire to affix an indicating means on the side of the hook of the hanger where the hook meets the hanger body.

The indicating means identifies some attribute of the garment suspended from the hanger, such as size, quality, colour, manufacturing data, or pattern.

To accommodate the various types of hangers available in the industry, numerous indicating means have been developed in a variety of shapes, sizes and 15 materials. Similarly, hangers have been developed to accommodate a variety of ".:"different indicating means.

US Patent 4,115,940 discloses a side sizer indicator for a garment hanger, having a removable indicia carrying tab. The indicia is attached to a web contiguous to the hanger body which is joined to both the body and the hook.

20 The small size and the removable nature of this indicia generated concern on °0°o the part of some garment hanger manufacturers that prompted the development of non-removable or child proof indicia for garment hangers.

~US Patents 5,096,101 and 5,199,608 disclose garment hangers with lacking .or irremovable information tabs, which hangers use a rib or thickened body portion to surround the indicia and block access to the underside of the indicia.

US Patent 5,441,182 also discloses a garment with a locking information clip having hook like elements or a raised platform to seat the clip, each of which prevents easy removal of the clip.

Environmental concerns have also generated a desire for hangers having information indicia which are essentially unremovable for the average consumer, but removable with the appropriate tooling for reuse and recycle purposes.

TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 Inasmuch as the indicators are generally colored plastic, it is highly desirable in any recycling program to remove the indicator before grinding "the hangers for reuse.

Further, in a reuse program, it is necessary to remove the old size indicia before fitting a new one.

An example of a garment hanger with a child proof size indicator and a special tool for removing the indicator is illustrated in US Patent 5,449,099. As taught is in this patent, the hanger may be moulded with cuts in the protective rib which surrounds the clip to enable manual access by a special tool. This system however does not enable automated removal of the size indicia as necessary for commercially viable reuse or recycle programs.

US Patent 5,611,469 discloses a Hanger with Identification Clip having a through opening in the attachment web between the attachment rib and the childproof safety rib. However, once the indicator is mounted, the opening is covered and cannot be used to provide entry of an indicator detachment tool.

15 Summary of the Invention: ~The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an extremely versatile arrangement which can accommodate virtually all types of side sizer indicators mounted on a garment hanger. The method and system can also accommodate a wide variety of hanger and indicia types.

The invention provides a method for automatically removing an indicator ~from a hanger having an indicator mounted thereon, said apparatus comprising: positioning said hanger in a predetermined orientation to align a through opening in said hanger with a reciprocal wedge; driving said reciprocal wedge through said through opening formed in said hanger when said hanger is in said predetermined position; displacing said indicator with said reciprocal wedge as said wedge engages a reaction surface defined by one side of said through opening; and retracting said reciprocal wedge to enable removal of said hanger.

The invention also provides an apparatus for automatically removing an indicator from a hanger having an indicator mounted thereon, said apparatus comprising: TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 a first means for receiving said hanger in a predetermined orientation; a reciprocal wedge positioned adjacent said predetermined position to displace said indicator from said hanger; a second means for securing said hanger in said predetermined orientation for removal of said indicator; first actuating means for driving said reciprocal wedge through a through opening formed in said hanger when said hanger is in said predetermined position; and second actuating means for driving said first and second means in a reciprocal manner, such that said first plate is driven to a first position to receive said hanger and then said second means is driven to a second position to secure said hanger in said predetermined position and enable actuation of said first actuating means.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system which 15 includes: a first means for securing the hanger for removal of the indicator; an .:,automated actuating means for driving a wedge through an opening or aperture in the hanger; and means for collecting and disposing of the indicator.

The first means of the present embodiment may also include a milled out portion or template defining a recess substantially corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the hanger to be received such that when the hanger is received in the recess, the through opening is correctly positioned for the automatic wedge mechanism. When the indicator engages the recess of the first plate the indicator detachment mechanism is positioned to remove the size indicator from the hanger.

Thus the system of the present invention is easily adapted to accommodate a variety of hanger configurations.

In another embodiment, the first means preferably further includes a reciprocal wedge positioned to displace the indicator. The first means also includes a second plate which reciprocates parallel to the first plate to secure the hanger for removal of the indicator.

In operation, the actuating means drives the first plate downward to position the hanger, and then drives the second plate to separate the hanger from a bulk TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 supply of the hangers. The reciprocal wedge is then actuated to engage the indicator and the reaction surface in the indicator attachment area to remove the indicator from the hanger while the hanger is secured by the second plate. The first plate is then raised to allow the garment hanger to move on for further processing.

The hangers with side sizer indicators affixed thereto can be lined up on a feeding rail which is slanted such that the force of gravity drives the hanger into position against the first plate. In a preferred embodiment the second plate may include any guides or templates for holding the hanger to prevent the hanger from moving when the indicator is removed by the reciprocal movement of the sedge. In a particularly preferred embodiment the second plate is driven downwardly to separate the hanger undergoing the detaching process from the rest of the hangers on the feeding rail.

The first plate of the present embodiment may also include a milled out portion to template defining a recess substantially corresponding to the shapes and 15 dimensions of the hanger to be received such that when the first plate is it is lower o position gravity forces the hanger in the recess or template.

To remove the indicator from the hanger the wedge is driven transversely to ~the first means by, for instance, a pneumatic cylinder means, while the hanger is resting in the recess of the first means.

The system further contemplates forceful ejection of the indicator from the hanger, which ejection may direct the indicator into a vacuum capture plenum.

A vacuum collection system can be attached to said vacuum capture plenum such that upon ejection, the indicator is removed from the detaching apparatus and •collected in a separate device.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second plates may further include a guide path or window through which the indicator passes upon ejection. The guide path or window can be dimensioned to accommodate a variety of indicator configurations. The vacuum discharge tube can be attached to the said guide path or window such that upon ejection the indicator is removed from the detaching apparatus and collected in a separate device.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for manually TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 6 removing an indicator from a hanger with an indicator attachment mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the device includes a wedge tool for manual insertion into the through opening formed in the indicator attachment web of the hanger.

The device for manually removing the indicators from the hangers can include a bench mounted wedge and a hanger guide mounted to a support such that the operator need not handle the device while manually removing the indicator from the hangers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for removing an indicator from a hanger by inserting a wedge mounted on a first means into the through opening in the hanger to displace the indicator from the indicator attachment area on the hanger. The method can be performed either manually or automatically.

The automated method for removing the indicator from the garment hanger comprises: holding a plurality of hangers with indicators affixed thereto; selectively 15 15 engaging one of the hangers; securing the hanger; and inserting the displacement wedge into the opening in the indicator attachment area to remove the indicator from the hanger.

In a second embodiment the method further contemplates moving a second plate downwardly to secure the hanger and separate the hanger from the plurality of hangers while aligning said indicator with a guide path or window in either the first ~or second plate and ejecting the indicator from the hanger through the guide path or window into a discharge tube.

Before the next hanger is selectively engaged the second plate is driven upwardly to permit the next hanger and indicator to advance along a feeding rail and rest against or in the recess in the first plate and then downwardly to separate the hanger from the plurality and to prevent a second hanger in the plurality of hangers with indicators from advancing. After the indicator is disengaged from he hanger the second plate is moved upwardly to permit the next hanger and indicator to advance.

Brief Description of the Drawings: The foregoing and other objects of the invention may now be more readily TNB:NB:#*,DIV 3 October 2000 ascertained from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the hook of a hanger incorporating a typical side sizer locking attachment mechanism, and the through opening or the present invention formed therein; Figure 1(a) illustrates a front elevation view of a portion of a hanger incorporating a side sizer locking attachment mechanism, and a modified form of the through opening of the present invention formed therein; Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the garment hanger and indicator of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a second type of garment hanger and side sizer indicator.

Figure 4 illustrates a diagrammatic view of the first means for detaching apparatus an indicator in the detaching position; 15 Figure 5 is an illustrative view of the wedge and garment hanger with 0" indicator just before detachment of the indicator; 0. aFigure 6 is an illustrative view of the wedge and garment hanger with indicator at the moment of detachment of the indicator.

Figure 7 is a plan view of one embodiment a manual detachment mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention; 0. Figure 8 is a cross-section view of the manual detachment apparatus illustrated in Figure 7 taken along section lines 8-8' of Figure 7.

:Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the detaching 0 a o0 apparatus according to the present invention with a feeding rail, a plurality of hangers thereon, and a first plate for receiving a hanger; Figure 10 illustrates a second sequential view of the detaching apparatus according to the present invention with a second plate securing the hanger, while the wedge removes the indicator; Figure 11 illustrates a third sequential view of the detaching apparatus according to the present invention with a first plate releasing the processed hangers, while the second plate maintains a separation; TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 8 Figure 12 is an isometric schematic illustration of the detachment apparatus of the present invention illustrating the control and actuating mechanisms therefore.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments: In the preferred embodiment, the improved hanger of the present invention is formed of styrene which provides a clear virtually transparent hanger for maximum display of garments suspended therefrom. Alternately, the hanger could be formed from K resin, H.I. styrene, polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastic.

The hanger 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is equipped with a hook 14 for engaging a rod or other supporting means, and a body 12 for supporting. a garment to be hung on the hanger. A web 16 extends between the hook 14 and the body 12 to provide an indicator attachment mechanism to receive an indicator 18 which bears an indicia or colour, or both, relating to a characteristic of the garment suspended from hanger body 12. As illustrated in Figure 1, it is common for the indicator 18 to be attached to the web member 16 by snapping it downwardly over an attachment rib 15 20 in the direction of arrow A, illustrated in Figure 1. The web also includes a S" second rib 22 which may be used to childproof the hanger and prevent easy removal of the indicator 18.

S. Environmental concerns on the part of large retail sales organisations have prompted a desire for hangers having side sizers 18 that are essentially unremovable for the average customer and, thus, "childproof' within the meaning of that term as described by the garment industry. The industry also desires that the side sizers be removable with the appropriate tooling for reuse and recycle purposes, but at "-:present no automated apparatus is available for this removal. Inasmuch as the indicators are generally colored plastic, it is highly desirable in any recycling program to remove the indicator before grinding the hangers for reuse. If the program is a reuse program rather than a recycling program, it is necessary to remove the old size indicator before attaching a new one.

The present invention includes a hanger having a side sizer indicia tab wherein the tab is essentially unremovable for the average consumer, but removable with the indicator detachment mechanism of the present invention. To enable removal of the tab, at least one through opening 24 is formed in web 16 which TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 extends through the web, and through the security rib 22 which prevents access or "finger purchase" on the edges of indicia 18. Alternately, the through opening may extend through both the attachment rib 20 and the security rib 22, or may extend to the attachment rib, with a cut through the attachment rib 20 as illustrated in the enlarged portion of Figure 1 Figure 2 illustrates in cross-section, web 16 of hanger 1 having a side sizer indicia 18 attached thereto. As illustrated in Figure 2, the size indicia 18 includes a pair of inwardly extending barbs or ridges 26a, 26b which snap over the enlarged retention rib 20 of web 16. A variety of internal rib or barb constructions are known in the prior art and illustrated in the various patents referred to in the summary of the prior art above.

As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a security rib 22 is also provided on web 16 to prevent the easy removal of the indicia by enabling "finger purchase" under one of the inwardly directed legs 28a, 28b, of the size indicia 18.

15 An alternate security arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the web i .16 receives an indicator 18 in the matter illustrated by arrow A in Figure 1. The web 16 of the hanger illustrated in Figure 3 is formed somewhat differently in crosssection and uses an alternate means for thwarting the easy removal of the indicator 18. As illustrated in Figure 1, the web 16 includes a first rib 20, which cooperates 20 with internal barbs or ridges 26a, 26b to secure the indicator to the web 16. Web 16 °o also includes an enlarged rib 30 which stabilises the indicator 18 to prevent -:soot 4 undesirable movement of the indicator in normal use. The arrangement illustrated in S"Figure 3 also includes a security land 22a which is elevated above the planar surface :16a, of web 16. In practice, this elevated land 22a and the curved portion 22b cause a fingernail or other removal device to "jump"" the gap between the indicator 18 and the land 22a, making it extremely difficult for the average consumer to remove the indicator 18.

The present invention uses at least one through opening 24 formed in web 16 to enable the removal of the "non-removable" indicators 18. The through opening 24 includes a reaction surface 24a and an opening which extends through the web and through the security rib 22 or the security land 22a to a space 24b underlying TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 the indicator 18. The through opening may extend through both the attachment rib and the security rib 22, or may extend to the attachment rib, with a cut through the attachment rib 20 as illustrated in the enlarged portion of Figure The through opening should not be so large as to permit "finger purchase" on the underside of the indicator, and should be transverse to the indicator 18.

The removal of the "non-removable" indicator 18 will be described with respect to Figures 5 and 6 which illustrate in cross-section the web 16 of hanger 1, and the indicator 18 of Figure 2 together with the removal tool of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the indicator 18 is securely attached to web 16 by virtue of the retention rib 20 and internal barbs 26a and b which engage the retention rib 20. The open ends 28a, 28b are also supported on web 16 on either side of through opening 24.

To remove the side sizer indicator 18, a wedge tool is inserted into the through opening 24 between the reaction surface 24a and the inwardly extending 5*legs 28a, 28b. As the wedge tool penetrates through the through opening 24, a first 4#66 side of the wedge tool 1 00a engages the reaction surface 24a while the tapered removal edge 100b engages the inwardly extending arms 28a and 28b of the se indicator 18. The downward motion indicated by the arrow B in Figure 6 results in a 20 laterally outward pressure in the direction of arrow C on the inwardly extending legs 28a, 28b causing the mid portion of the indicator to bow outwardly, to a point where the barbs or ribs 26a, 26b which are formed of plastic, will be resiliently deformed and slide over the retention rib 20 to the position illustrated in Figure The resilient quality of the plastic materials from which the indicators 18 are normally formed creates a sudden release of the indicator 18 from web 16, expelling the indicator 18 in the direction of arrow C. The rate of downward movement of the wedge tool 100 determines to some extent the forcefulness of the detachment of indicator 18 from web. 16, and the detachment process can be regulated to some extent by varying the penetration rate of wedge tool 100 through the through opening 24. A thin blade type wedge tool may also be employed in combination with a through opening 24 which cuts through the attachment rib 20 to ensure TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 11 complete removal of the indicator in the event of multiple security ribs.

The automated detachment of the indicator 18 from the hangers 1 will be described with respect to Figure 6. One or more hangers are suspended from an angled rod 105 (illustrated in Figure 12), which may gravity feed the hangers to the first means 107 for removal of the indicator. The first means 107 may reciprocate into a support position by virtue of a support and drive mechanism 133. A plurality of blocks 200, 202 and 204 may define a template for securing the hanger from undesirable movement, and in combination with angled rod 105, define a registration means for aligning the hanger with the automatic detachment wedge 100. Wedge tool 100 is mounted to the first means, which reciprocates wedge 100 through the through opening 24 defined in hanger 1. In a preferred embodiment, it "is driven by a pneumatic cylinder or electric solenoid.

While sandwiched in this position, the wedge tool 100 is driven through the :through opening 24 in hanger 1 in the manner previously described with respect to 15 Figure 3. Wedge tool 100 may be easily driven by a pneumatic cylinder attached to the back plate 107. Alternately, electromagnetic or hydraulic drive mechanisms may be utilised as desired. The penetration of wedge tool 100 results in the forcible *go• detachment of the indicator 18 as illustrated in Figure 6. The first means 107 may then be reciprocated out of engagement with the hanger 1 to provide for removal o 20 and/or reuse of the hanger.

Thus, the detachment mechanism illustrated in Figure 6 cycles repetitively to automatically detach a plurality of the "non-removable" indicators 18 from a plurality of hangers 1.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the first means 107 includes a slot 107a to allow reciprocation of the means 107 about hanger rod 105. Alternately, first means 107 could be formed as a laterally reciprocating plate traversing the space between the support rod 105 and the hanger body 12, provided the wedge tool 100 is reciprocated to a position approximate that of through opening 24. While in the start of downward position illustrated in Figure 6, the hanger 1 may be further aligned for processing by means of removable template blocks which are illustrated in dotted lines at 200, 202, and 204 in Figure 7. These blocks may be secured to the TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 back plate 107 by means of alignment pins or screws 206. The template blocks 200- 204 enable a variety of hanger configurations and styles to be automatically processed by the apparatus of the present invention. Blocks 200-204 provide registration blocks for the hanger 1 that maintain the hanger in a proximate location for entry of wedge tool 100 through the through opening 24. Blocks 202 and 204 also define there between an exit window for the forcible expulsion of indicator 18 when the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24.

Alternatively, recesses may be milled into the first means 107 to provide a stabilising template for the hanger 1 to be processed, and to provide an exit path for indicator 18.

A vacuum tube 126 may also be provided adjacent to the exit path defined between blocks 202 and 204 to receive the indicator 18 and convey it to a collection bin for further processing or recycling.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, there is illustrated a tool for manually 15 removing the indicators 18 from hanger 1. Figure 7 illustrates a plan view of the manual removal tool, while Figure 8 illustrates a section view taken along section line 8-8' of Figure 7.

The device for manually removing an indicator from a garment hanger can be handheld, or may have a rectangular shape as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 for 20 bench mounting. The device includes a plate 138 which can be made of metal or moulded plastic and includes a recessed area 139 for receiving the hanger and a o *wedge tool 100 which extends upwardly from the recessed area 139 to engage the through opening 24 in the hanger having an indicator to be removed. The wedge tool 100 performs exactly the same function as previously described with respect to Figures 4-6. The only difference is that with the manual detachment mechanism, the hanger 1 is manually positioned with the wedge tool 100 entering the through opening 24, and then the hanger is pressed downwardly against the recess in plate 139 to effect removal of the indicator 18. An alignment pin 105a and alignment blocks 200a and 204a may be provided to assist the operator in aligning the hanger 1 to engage the wedge tool 100 in the through opening 24. As the hanger is pressed into engagement with the recessed area 139, the wedge tool 100 removes the

TNB:NB:#*.DIV

3 October 2000 13 indicator 18 in the direction of arrow C as illustrated in Figure 7.

Another embodiment of the automated detachment of the indicator 18 from the hangers 1 will be described with respect to Figures 9-11. As illustrated in Figure 9, a support rod 105 is angled downwardly and receives a plurality of hangers 1 thereon which slide downwardly along rod 105 until they reach back plate 107.

Alternately, a screw rod conveyor may be used for rod 105 to sequentially advance a plurality of hanger 1 into position for detachment of the indicators 18. In the initial start position, the back plate 107 is extended downwardly, straddling rod 105 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 12. When at least one hanger la has been received against the back plate 107, a front plate 106 is reciprocated downwardly and the direction of the arrow D in Figure 10 by a pneumatic drive motor 204. Front plate 106 includes a rounded wedge engagement surface 106a which penetrates the hangers supported on rod 105 and separates hanger la from the remainder of the :99 hangers 1 as the front plate 106 is driven downwardly. The front plate 106 and the 15 back p late 107 are mounted for reciprocation on support means 133 and are driven upwardly and downwardly by pneumatic drive motors 108a, 108b via connecting rods or pistons 109, 110. It should be noted that in Figures 9-11 the relative proportions of the various components have been exaggerated to clarify the operation of the device, and the depiction in Figures 9-11 is intended to be :i 20 illustrative in a schematic sense, and not a literal depiction of the elements As illustrated in Figure 10, the front plate 106 has been extended downwardly to its second position commensurate with the start position of back plate 107. Hanger la has been separated for the remainder of the hangers 1 and is now sandwiched between front plate 106 and back plate 107. While sandwiched in this position, the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24 in hanger la and into a matching cavity on front plate 106 in the manner previously described with respect to Figures 5 and 6. Wedge tool 100 may be easily driven in the direction of arrow B in Figure 10 by a pneumatic cylinder 102 attached to the back plate 107.

After the indicator has been removed from hanger la, the wedge tool 100 is retracted, and back plate 107 is raised to the position illustrated in Figure 11 while front plate 106 remains in its downward position. This enables 'the hanger la to TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 14 slide down the support rod 105 in the direction of arrow E where it may be collected or advanced for further processing by a screw rod conveyor or the like.

After the hanger la is free of the detachment mechanism, plate 107 is reciprocated downwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 9, and the front plate 106 is raised to the position illustrated in Figure 9 to allow the collected group of hangers to slide down support rod 105 into engagement with back plate 107 at the start position as previously with respect to Figure 9. Thus, the detachment mechanism illustrated in Figures 9-11 cycles repetitively to detach the "nonremovable" indicators 18 from a plurality of hangers 1.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the back alate 107 includes a slot 107a to allow reciprocation of the back plate 107 about hanger rod 105. Alternately, back plate 107 could be formed as a, laterally reciprocating plate traversing the space between the support rod 105 and the hanger body 12, provided the wedge tool 100 is reciprocated to a position approximate that of through opening 24. Figure 4 is an 15 illustration of the apparatus taken along section lines 7-7 of Figure 10. It is understood that back plate 107 is supported by the support means 133 and is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly in the direction of arrow F by means of the o* pneumatic drive 108(b) as previously described with respect to Figures 9-11. While in the start of downward position illustrated in Figure 4, the hanger 1 may be further 20 aligned for processing by means of removable template blocks which are illustrated in dotted lines at 200, 202, and 204 in Figure 4. These blocks may be secured to the back plate 107 by means of alignment pins or screws 206. The template blocks 200204 enable a variety of hanger configurations and styles to be automatically processed by the apparatus of the present, invention. Blocks 200-204 provide registration blocks for the hanger 1 that maintain the hanger in a proximate location for entry of wedge tool 100 through the through opening 24. Blocks 202 and 204 also define there between an exit window for the forcible expulsion of indicator 18 when the wedge tool 100 is driven through the through opening 24.

Alternatively, recesses may be milled into the back plate 107 to provide a stabilising template for the hanger 1 to be processed, and to provide an exit path for indicator 18.

TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 It is to be noted that the blocks 200-204 are no greater in thickness than the clearance between the front plate 106 and back plate 107 to enable the hanger to be securely captured there between for removal of the indicator 18. A vacuum tube 126 may also be provided adjacent the exit path defined between blocks 202 and 204 to receive the indicator 18 and convey it to a collection bin for further processing or recycling.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the apparatus is schematically illustrated in isometric form with the indicators 18 on the opposite side of rod 105, and the wedge tool 100 mounted on the opposite side of plate 107. In a preferred embodiment, the detachment apparatus may be driven pneumatically and further include a position control means 111, an air control means 114, a first timer 116, a second timer 117, and an air valve 137. The air valve 137 generates and/or controls pressurised air by which the detachment apparatus is controlled and driven.

The air valve 137, the timers 116 and 117, the actuating means or pneumatic cylinders 108, 108b, the air control means 114 and the position control means 111 are respectively connected by air tubes for pneumatic control. The entire apparatus, including a reciprocating support 133, which is not illustrated in Figure 12 is supported to a fixed mount as indicated at 120.

se. As illustrated in Figure 12, the position control means 111 includes a first detector 112 for the position of the front plate 106 and a second detector 113 for the position of back plate 107. The first detector 112 and the second detector 113 work on a pneumatic basis and have a similar structure. First and second detectors 112 and 113 each include contact plates which are contacted with the upper sides 106 of the back plate 107 respectively. In the upper positions, the front plate 106 and the back plate 107 press upwardly on ,the contact plates respectively, to create a pneumatic signal in the position control means 111, thereby permitting a steady controlled movement of plates 106 and 107.

The actuating means 108a, 108b controls the movements of the two plates 106, 107 and the control sequence is such that the front plate 106 cannot move upwardly when the back plate 107 is not in its lowermost position, and the back plate 107 cannot move upwardly when the, front plate 106 is not in its lower most TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 position. This ensures that the hangers having side sizer indicators to be detached do not slide along feeding rail 105 under the plates 106, 107 when not being processed.

The first timer 116 controls the regular cycle of the movement of the two plates 106 and 107, whereas the second timer 117 enables a repeated downward movement of the front plate 106, if, for example, the hook of a hanger 1 is bent or damaged, or the indicator 18 is bent or damaged. In this case, the timer 117 gives a signal to the actuating means 108a to lift the front plate 106 up again and to retry to move it downwardly. This is repeated until the hanger 1 is properly received within the alignment blocks 202, 204 of plate 107 so that front plate 106 can move to its lower position without resistance.

It is understood that although preferred embodiments of the present invention oooo *...have been described and that various modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention is defined in the following claims. While the detachment apparatus of the described embodiment is 15 pneumatically driven, the detachment apparatus could be driven by electrical, mechanical or other appropriate drive means.

Furthermore, the present invention has been described and illustrated in *e connection with a single type of side sizer indicator 18, although it is understood S that the present invention can be used without adaptation, or easily adapted to 20 accommodate virtually any type of side sizing indicator.

While it has been shown and described what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will, of courses, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail can be readily made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention not be limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

TNB:NB:#*,DIV 3 October 2000

Claims (14)

1. A method for automatically removing an indicator from a hanger having an indicator mounted thereon, said apparatus comprising: positioning said hanger in a predetermined orientation to align a through opening in said hanger with a reciprocal wedge; driving said reciprocal wedge through said through opening formed in said hanger when said hanger is in said predetermined position; displacing said indicator with said reciprocal wedge as said wedge engages a reaction surface defined by one side of said through opening; and retracting said reciprocal wedge to enable removal of said hanger.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein said indicator is a side sizer and said hanger is a hanger which accents side sizing.

3. The method of Claim 2, wherein said indicator includes first and second side walls with at least one barb on each side wall, and said hanger includes 15 at least one rib, wherein the method further includes the step of spreading the sidewalls of the indicator as said reciprocal wedge displaces said indicator.

4. The method of Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said method further includes the step of collecting said indicator after detachment. S"

5. The method of any preceding claim, which further comprises the step of feeding a plurality of hangers one by one to said predetermined position by gravity.

An apparatus for automatically removing an indicator from a hanger having an indicator mounted thereon, said apparatus comprising: a first means for receiving said hanger in a predetermined orientation; a reciprocal wedge positioned adjacent said predetermined position to displace said indicator from said hanger; a second means for securing said hanger in said predetermined orientation for removal of said indicator; first actuating means for driving said reciprocal wedge through a through opening formed in said hanger when said hanger is in said predetermined position; and TNB:NB:#*.DIV 3 October 2000 18 second actuating means for driving said first and second means in a reciprocal manner, such that said first plate is driven to a first position to receive said hanger and then said second means is driven to a second position to secure said hanger in said predetermined position and enable actuation of said first actuating means.

7. The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein said first actuating means and said wedge means are mounted on said first means.

8. The apparatus of Claim 7, wherein said first plate further defines an ejection path and said apparatus further includes a vacuum tube for receiving said indicator after detachment.

9. The apparatus of Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said first plate and said second plate reciprocate vertically with respect to said predetermined position.

The apparatus of Claim 9, further comprising a means for feeding a :plurality of hangers one by one to said first means by gravity. 15

11. The apparatus of Claim 9 or 10, wherein said first position for said first means is below said means for feeding, and said first means reciprocates upwardly to a second position above said means for feeding to allow a hanger to be released after said indicator is detached.

12. The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein said first position for said second 20 means is above said means for feeding, and said second means reciprocates downwardly to a second position below said means for feeding to secure said hanger in said predetermined position for detachment of said indicator.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. An apparatus for removing an indicator from a hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 or 7 and 8 or 9, 10 and 11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 3 October 2000 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: SPOTLESS PLASTICS PTY LTD TNB:NB :#*.DIV 3 October 2000